Hollywood comeback denies Slovenia

Michael Bradley's lung bursting run into the box was rewarded with USA's equaliser.

Kevork Djansezian: Getty Images

The United States has denied Slovenia a chance to qualify for the World Cup knockout rounds with a Hollywood comeback to draw 2-2 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

USA put in a scintillating second-half performance to surmount a two-goal deficit and had a third goal controversially chalked off in the dying minutes.

Jozy Altidore knocked down a long ball to Michael Bradley, who had put in a lung-bursting run to get into the box and finished calmly to break Slovene hearts.

Slovenia looked like it was to become only the second team to qualify for the knockout rounds after going 2-0 up by half-time, but will now need at least a draw against England to progress.

But Slovenia nearly lost all points just minutes after Bradley's goal, when a close-range finish by Maurice Edu was mysteriously disallowed by the referee.

Landon Donovan's freekick found Edu in a packed box, but replays suggested three American players were held back by Slovenia defenders. Instead, Slovenia escaped with a free kick.

Immediately from the second-half kick off, Donovan had put his side on the comeback road and set the tempo for a half of US dominance.

A slip by Bostjan Cesar let Donovan in and finding no support, went for goal from a tight angle, dramatically blasting the ball into the roof of the net.

USA were sparked into life from the perfectly-timed goal and nearly had a second when Jozy Altidore was denied a shot thanks to a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Marko Suler.

Suler was again in the thick of things when he fouled Altidore inches outside the box. Donovan's free kick found its way to Altidore who shot fiercely at Samir Handanovic, but the Slovenia 'keeper held firmly.

The half closed out with numerous US chances to steal the win as a long throw from Oguchi Onyewu pinged around the box before Clint Dempsey poked wide.

Slovenia looked to snatch victory late on as Radosavljevic drove from distance, but US 'keeper Tim Howard managed to push the shot away.

Slovenia races away

But it could have been so different for Slovenia - the tournament's smallest nation up against the Cup's most populous - after it raced away to a 2-0 first-half lead.

The tiny nation dominated proceedings in the first 45 and was rewarded with two stunning goals for their efforts.

On 13 minutes, Valter Birsa collected the ball 30 yards out before curling a cracking shot which zoomed past Howard.

US stars Dempsey and Donovan were denied the time and space to hurt Slovenia, with most chances fashioned through pacy forwards Altidore and Robbie Findley, but neither could find the pass to set up the killer blow.

The closest USA came was when Dempsey hit a daisy-cutter pass across the face of goal, with Miso Brecko scrambling to clear off his line with Donovan lurking.

A minute later, street smart Slovenia capped its dominant display with a second goal near the half's end through Zltan Ljubijankic.

A deft pass from Milivoje Novakovic put Ljubijankic clear and he finished with ease past the advancing Howard.